Car And Truck Brake Parts

Brake Reservoir

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Brake Reservoir
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The first indication that you will get that you car engine is overheating will usually be when the water temperature gauge starts to rise above its normal level and towards the red zone. This will normally be followed by an overheat warning light illuminating on the dashboard and may even be accompanied by steam rising from under the bonnet. It is important to stop if you have any of these warning signs, as continuing to drive on could cause severe and expensive damage to the engine.

As soon as you get any indication that your engine is overheating you need to pull over and switch your engine off. Carrying on, even until you reach a service station or garage, could create a large amount of damage to the engine, especially the cylinder head, which is prone to warping under high temperatures and will be very expensive to replace.

Once safely parked on the side of the road, switch on your hazard lights to warn any following drivers of your problem. Providing that there is no fire present you can open the bonnet, to give the engine a chance to cool down, however do not be tempted to touch any of the engine parts at this point, as it is very likely that you will be burnt.

Be prepared that it may take quite some time for the engine to cool down sufficiently so be ready for a long wait. If your vehicle has overheated when it is dark, switch on your sidelight bulbs to improve the visibility of your vehicle to other road users and consider turning on your headlight bulbs to help you see what your are doing.

Once the engine has cooled down you will probably need to top up the coolant level. In an emergency it is fine to use ordinary water but make sure it is not too cold or it could crack the plastic water reservoir. If you need to add a lot of water to your coolant it will significantly dilute the concentration of the antifreeze within it, and this will eventually need to be remedied by a qualified mechanic to prevent the coolant freezing during the winter.

Even if the engine has cooled down the coolant may still be hot and undoing the coolant filler cap can release scolding hot steam onto your hand. Therefore wait until the radiator is cool enough to touch before opening the coolant filler cap and cover your hand with a rag for added protection.

At arms length steadily fill up the engine coolant with water, to prevent being splashed with hot coolant, and stop periodically to check the reservoir level. Once the coolant level is back between the maximum and minimum levels marked on the reservoir, and the engine temperature gauge is back within its normal range it will be safe to drive off again.

Remember that whilst your car is safe to drive again, there is an underlying problem that caused the overheating, so avoid a long journey and take it to a suitable garage to be checked out as soon as possible. However, if the engine overheats again, shortly after you have set off, you need to pull over and call a roadside recovery service as you have a serious problem that will require the services of a garage to fix it.

If your car's engine does overheat you will need to pull over quickly to the side of the road to prevent seriously damaging the engine, so switch on your warning car bulbs to alert other drivers to your predicament and also to make your vehicle more visible. Once parked up, if the breakdown has happened at night you should also leave your sidelight bulbs on, as they will illuminate the car, yet only draw a small amount of power from the battery.

Healthy Brakes: Top 3 DIY Tips

What's the point in driving if you can't reach your destination, alive! And for the most part it's your car's brakes that ensure your safety throughout a journey. The best part about ensuring a fully functional braking system is that you can yourself run some quick checks to see whether it needs your attention or not.

And that's not all, you can even carry out some of the repairs yourself. The following three tips should help you keep your car's braking system happy, and you and your passengers safe.

1. Brake Fluid: The system's Lifeblood

The key here is to have the right levels of brake fluids in the reservoir. It's a lot more easier these days to check the fluid levels, as most of the brake fluid reservoirs are see through and have markings on them to show the levels.

To check the fluid level, lift open the hood and locate the reservoir. You'd find it at the back of the engine bay and in front of the driver's side. It's positioned high up for easy access.

Once you're there, check the markings, wipe the dust off the reservoir if you can't see clearly. If it needs replacement then here's how you should go about topping it up.

A. Clean any grime or dust from around the reservoir cap before opening it.
B. Pour in the fluid slowly, allowing it time to settle.
C. Close the cap and you're done.

However, it's a good idea to check the level again after a day just to make sure that there isn't a void after the air bubbles have escaped. Also don't take point “A” lightly, as any impurity that falls into the reservoir could harm the system.

2. Brake Pads: The systems cutting edge

While in some automobiles you'd need to remove the wheels, in others you can carry out the inspection without it. However the important thing is to get a clear view of the pads.

To make an assessment, follow surface of the disc towards the top, and you should see that the outer pad is touches the disc, of the disc brakes. Over time the pads do wear, but if they've worn to the breadth of two pennies stacked atop each other, it's high time you replaced them.

3. Brake Disc: Too critical to lose

To run an assessment of the brake disk you'd need to take a look just like you did with the pads. Run your eyes from the center to the outside edges of the disc and it should appear to be shiny. Minor lines and scratches are hardly a thing to bat an eyelid, but any rough areas or deeper grooves should certainly raise a big red flag. Replace them ASAP, and in pairs.

You'd need to run these checks just a few times each year.

If you have your car's braking system in order you wouldn't ever put yourself in danger, unnecessarily.

About the Author

Fred is a journalist with 7 years of experience. Though, as a professional he's reported on myriad topics, his favorites are the auto and the healthcare industry. Two platforms he's previously worked on are Themedica and Automotive-Online. He now blogs at: Automobile Hotspot.

How do I know if my brake fluid reservoir has two components?

I am borrowing my brother's ford ranger, and the brake light just came on. There is only fluid leaking in the back of the car, however. My stepfather says that there should be two components to my brake fluid reservoir-- how can I tell? (I'm just trying to get the car home)

unless your car was made in 1966 or before you have a dual master cylinder where there is a fluid chamber for the rear brakes and one for the front brakes, if you lose all the fluid from the rear brakes you will still have front brakes and visa versa.

2000 Ford Windstar SE from North America - Comments
Only regular maintenance items have been changed. I see all the negative remarks regarding this van, and I feel compelled to respond. I purchased my Windstar new off the lot back in 2000 when my wife was pregnant with our first of two children. The van has been an absolute warrior for us.

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